South Kesteven

South Kesteven's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in average age, marriage and religion.

The population passed 130,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of South Kesteven increased by 7.2%, from almost 125,000 to 134,000.

The addition of just under 9,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, South Kesteven was home to, on average, 1 person per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older South Kesteven

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of South Kesteven increased by four years, from 39 to 43 years.

This rural area had a higher average age than the East Midlands and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 5,800 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 3,000.

About 13% of people in South Kesteven are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and South Kesteven by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in South Kesteven

South Kesteven saw the East Midlands' second-largest fall in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (90%) in South Kesteven reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities, compared with 91% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.5% to 3.4%.

Across the region, only East Lindsey saw a greater fall in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 89% to 87%).

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

More single people in South Kesteven

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in South Kesteven, but at a slower rate than across the East Midlands.

In South Kesteven, the proportion of single people increased from 23% in 2001 to 26% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 28% to 32%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 28% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in South Kesteven fell from 58% to 54%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 10% to 13%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of South Kesteven residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.2% to 4.8% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71% in 2001. The percentage of South Kesteven residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the East Midlands. The improvement brought health in South Kesteven close to the national average 5.5% in England described their health as good in 2011).

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in South Kesteven decreased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in South Kesteven, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of South Kesteven residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.7%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 1.2% in 2001 to 1.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in South Kesteven remained close to 1.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and South Kesteven by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in South Kesteven

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 22% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 22% in 2001

The number of people in South Kesteven that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 14,000 in 2001 to just under 30,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 12% to 22% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 16% to 27%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in South Kesteven that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 100,000 in 2001 to about 93,000 in 2011 (from 81% to 70%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just under 7,800 to just under 9,300 (from 6.2% to 7.0%).

Just over 430 people (0.2%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from just under 260 in 2001 (0.3%).

The population without a religion in South Kesteven increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and South Kesteven by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in South Kesteven

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 97% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 97% in 2001

The number of people in South Kesteven from the White ethnic groups increased from just over 120,000 in 2001 to just over 130,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 97%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 93% to 89%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in South Kesteven from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 1,000 in 2001 to just under 1,600 in 2011 (from 0.8% to 1.2%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 650 to just over 1,100 (from 0.5% to 0.9%).

About 510 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 190 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in South Kesteven remained close to 97%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and South Kesteven by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

In South Kesteven, the proportion of private renting increased from 8.7% in 2001 to 15% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 8.5% to 15%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in South Kesteven fell from 15% to 13%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 73% to 69%.

Private renting in South Kesteven increased by 6 percentage points

Percentage of households in South Kesteven, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in South Kesteven working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.8% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 14% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in South Kesteven decreased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in South Kesteven, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

The percentage of households without children increased in South Kesteven at a faster rate than across England.

In South Kesteven, the proportion of households without children increased from 61% in 2001 to 63% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 61% to 61%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of households without children increased from 61% to 62%.

The proportion of households with children in South Kesteven fell from 31% to 29%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 8.7% to 8.6%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in South Kesteven, which comprised a single parent, increased from 7.6% to 8.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (38%) households had a married couple, compared with 43% in 2001. While the percentage of households in South Kesteven, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.6% to 10%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.8% in 2001 to 9.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of South Kesteven residents that were studying increased from 2.2% to 2.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (56%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 57% in 2001. The percentage of South Kesteven residents that were unemployed increased from 2.5% to 3.3%.

The proportion of students increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were in education across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

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